B. Piura et al., Abnormal uterine bleeding as a presenting sign of metastases to the uterine corpus, cervix and vagina in a breast cancer patient on tamoxifen therapy, EUR J OB GY, 83(1), 1999, pp. 57-61
Citations number
22
Categorie Soggetti
Reproductive Medicine
Journal title
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS GYNECOLOGY AND REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Metastases to the female genital tract from extragenital cancers are uncomm
on. The ovaries are most often affected with the breast and gastrointestina
l tract being the most common sites of the primary malignancy. Metastases t
o the uterus from extragenital cancers are significantly rarer than metasta
ses to the ovaries and in the majority of cases the ovaries are also involv
ed. A case of metastases restricted to the uterine corpus, cervix and vagin
a from breast carcinoma, without involvement of the ovaries, is described.
The patient who had been on tamoxifen therapy presented with postmenopausal
bleeding. The diagnosis of uterine metastases was established during endom
etrial ablation and confirmed by total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral
salpingo-oophorectomy. This case illustrates that abnormal uterine bleedin
g in a breast cancer patient, regardless of whether she is receiving or not
receiving tamoxifen, should always alert the physician to consider the pos
sibility of uterine metastases from breast carcinoma. (C) 1999 Elsevier Sci
ence Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.